Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Germany and Austria, Volume VII, Part 2

663.001/2–653: Telegram

No. 846
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Holmes) to the Department of State¹

secret
priority

London, February 6, 1953—8 p.m.

4371. From Dowling. At two and three-quarter hour session this afternoon² Western Deputies were unable to budge Gromyko from position that abbreviated treaty must not only not be discussed, but actually withdrawn before consideration other matters.

After opening statements Western Deputies Gromyko cited his letter of February 3 accepting invitation to meeting and asked for assurances short treaty had been withdrawn. It was argued by US chairman that meeting took place on basis US note Jan 29 and Gromyko’s letter February 3.³ It was admitted that his letter could be construed as basis on which he attended, but that US attendance must likewise be based on US note, i.e., “readiness to discuss without prior conditions any and all matters relevant to the speedy conclusion of an Austrian treaty”.

After further argument British Deputy said he was prepared to lay aside short treaty and not discuss it so long as constructive progress was being made toward conclusion of an Austrian treaty, but could not go beyond this. To this Gromyko replied that he could not accept this position and reiterated that abbreviated treaty must be withdrawn. At this stage chairman suggested meeting be adjourned and that Deputies meet again on Monday. This was accepted without discussion.

West Deputies are meeting tomorrow morning to discuss tactics for next session. It is evident, however, that meetings can not continue on present basis. My tentative recommendation is that Western Deputies attempt once more to reach agreement along lines British suggestion set forth above. If Gromyko still insists on withdrawal abbreviated draft, I believe Western Deputies should each make full statement outlining Western position. This should include flat charge that Soviets are resorting to yet another pretext to delay conclusion of Austrian treaty and even prevent serious negotiation; point out that long draft is outmoded and not equitable for Austria; that Article 35 was agreed in principle on basis understanding treaty as whole would be concluded by September 1, 1949 and agreement to it has therefore lapsed; and finally that Western powers, while still prepared to “accept any treaty in terms adequate to restore Austrian independence and ensure freedom from foreign domination,” have no choice but to insist on abbreviated treaty as only solution for Austrian question.⁴

Holmes

1. Repeated to Paris, Moscow, and Vienna.
2. The meeting summarized in this telegram was the 259th session of the Austrian Treaty Deputies. The last meeting of the Deputies took place in London in December 1950; for a record of this meeting, see Foreign Relations, 1950, vol. iv, p. 472. Documentation concerning the meetings in February 1953 is in CFM files, lot M 88, box 117, “Meeting of the Deputies for Austria, London, January–August 1953”.
3. See Document 843.
4. In telegram 5257 to London, Feb. 7, the Department of State informed Dowling that it concurred with the procedure recommended in this telegram. It noted, however, that if the British proposal for not discussing the abbreviated treaty should be followed, it should be made clear that the West was not withdrawing the short draft. (663.001/2–653)